“No, I couldn’t. Wendy had something planned already. I apologized online... I guess they weren’t happy. I haven’t received another invitation.” He sighed. “Look, I love what I do, but it’s hard. Dealing with teenagers? Some girls are in high school and already have kids, while others are pregnant. Some of the guys are in gangs already pushing drugs. This sounded like a nice group. Just a nice group of people finding power and giving with one another.”

“Finding power. That phrase was used?” Dan asked.

Axel leaned forward. “Did the number six come up in your conversation?”

“What? Uh...yeah, actually.” Lawrence looked confused. “They said they were a solid group and didn’t ask just anyone in. They liked to keep their number at six. They didn’t consider themselves to be elite or anything. It was just the right number of people to be able to get things done.”

“Where were you supposed to meet them?” Dan asked.

“Oh, that I don’t know,” Nathan said.

“How could you be expected to meet them and not know where?” Axel asked him.

“They tell you where to come right before they meet, and of course, I’d sent my apologies, and they never told me.”

“That’s convenient,” Axel said.

“I swear!” Nathan vowed passionately. “Look, you don’t think that—”

“The woman is dead,” Dan said flatly. “The victim you read about, Jane Doe in the decrepit old family cemetery.” He pointed to her in the picture. “She’s dead, hacked to death. So, yes, these people do have something to do with what’s going on. And you had really best tell us anything you know. You don’t want this killer running around the city, especially when he’s someone who knows you.”

Katie hated sitting in the reception area waiting.

She should have stayed with Jeremy. Now that they had talked, she was equally concerned about Jeremy as she was for herself. And no matter how he blustered that he was fine and could take care of himself, Katie was frightened for him.

She knew she had Dan with her, and she was being watched and had a great deal of protection going for her.

Jeremy was on his own.

George was also on his own.

She’d called George; they would meet up later at his hotel.

A phone rang, and she heard the receptionist answer the call. “Yes, yes, of course. Yes, they’re both in interrogation right now, but I’ll have them with you as soon as possible... I’m sure, Detective... We’ve been getting calls here, too, of course. The paper had no choice once the information was leaked... Yes, Detective.”

The young woman behind the desk was speaking in low, careful tones.

Katie could still hear her.